Production of paper-pulp from sugar-cane or other fibrous vegetable substances



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDXVARD C. LE BOURGEOIS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

PRODUCTION OF PAPER-PULP FROM SUGAR-CANE OR OTHER FIBROUS VEGETABLESUBSTANCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,977, dated June 5,1883.

Application filed October 28, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, E. 0. LE BOURGEOIS, a citizen of the United States,of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massa chusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Production ofPaper- Pulp from Sugar-Cane or other Substances; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theillvention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the production of pulp or stock for paper andother purposes from sugar-cane or other fibrous vegetable substances;and my invention consists in subject ing the sugar-cane or otherfiber-producing material to pressure of sufficient density todisintegrate and break up the cellular formation of the cane, so thatwhen dissolved or separated in any manner it will be found to be in thenature of pulp.

In carrying out my invention I take the sugarcane before the saccharinejuices have been extracted and subject it to a pressure of sufiicientforce to break up the cellular formation of the cane and at the sametime express all the sugar-producing juices therefrom; or I may firstsubject the cane to' the action of erushing-rollssuch as are commonlyused in breaking up and extracting the juice from the caneatter whichthe macerated stalk is subjectedto the required pressure, as abovestated. The compressed product, if desired for paper stock, is now takenand subjected to the action of a picker or emery wheel or any of thewellknown devices for reducing wood or other paper-producing fiber topaper-stock, or it may be reduced by dissolving in water or by chemicalaction.

I have thus far described the reduction of the sugar-cane to pulp bymeans of pressure; but it is obvious that the ordinary cornstalks,cotton-plants, palmetto, swamp-cane, and all fiber-producing vegetablesubstances may be (No specimens.)

treated in the same manner to produce paper or other stock, the pressurebeing sufficient to free the material of all resins, acids, orextraneous matters. I may find it convenient and desirable in someinstances to use steam in con nection with pressure in the reduction offibrous material to pulp for the purpose of softening the fibers andfacilitating the breaking up of the cellular tissues; but ordinarily thematerial can be reduced to pulp by pressure alone. By this means I amenabled to prepare blocks of fibrous substance which can be readilytransported to the place where the final reduction takes. place or wherethe fibers are made into paper. The necessary pressure is obtained bymeans of an apparatus described and claimed in an application filed inthe Patent Otfice having even date herewith.

I claim- 1. The method herein described of producing pulp or paper-stockfrom sugar-cane or other, fibrous vegetable material, the sameconsisting in subjecting the material to a pressure of sufiicientdensity to break up the cellular tissues, forming it into blocks fortransportation, as set forth. I

2. As a new article of manufacture, pulp or paper-stock made fromcornstalk or sugarcane into blocks for commercial use.

3. The new article of manufacture herein described, consisting of ablock or bale of crushed and consolidated fibers from bagasse, as setforth. 7

4. A. solid block or bale of disintegrated fibers for transportation, tobe worked into paper, all substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

I E. 0. LE BoUEcEoIsf

